The Design Review Section has the responsibility of reviewing plans and specifications for all public and private wastewater collection systems and domestic sewage treatment systems. The Section also reviews and issues permits for major new users of municipal treatment plants, assists small communities with wastewater treatment needs and prepares environmental assessments for projects that are funded by the State Revolving Loan Fund. Additional functions of this section include reviewing wastewater planning studies, municipal sewer use ordinances, user charge systems and inter-municipal agreements. The Design Review Section has prepared a Standard Front End package for use in preparing bidding documents for SRF and State Aid Grant funded projects.

State statute and the Code of Administrative Rules require that plans and specifications be submitted for review and approval for all sewers which serve more than one building or which require a manhole at the connection, and for any proposed pumping station which serves more than one building or has a capacity in excess of 50 gallons per minute. A Sewer Connection Permit request must be submitted for:

Any proposed sewerage, whether public or private;

Any proposed wastewater connection or other discharge in excess of 5000 gallons per day;

Any proposed wastewater connection or other discharge to a wastewater treatment facility operating in excess of 80% design flow capacity; and

Any proposed connection or other discharge of industrial wastewater, regardless of quality or quantity.